Animal trap



Jan. 30, 1923. 1,443,705.

F. F. ELUS.

ANIMAL TRAP.

FILED JuLY15.1922.

l J7 d ATTOR NEY.

Patented Jan. 30, 1923.

entran tintes Partnr orifice.

FERRAND F. ELL, OF ONEDA., NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ONEIDA COMM-UNITY, LIMTED, O1? ONEIDA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

ANIMAL TRAP.

Application filed July 15, 1922. Serial No. 575,271.

To all Awlw/1z- :t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FERRAND F. ELLIS, of Oneida, in the county of Madison, in the tate of New York, have invented new and 5 useful improvements in Animal Traps, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full7 clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an animal trap 10 involving the use of opposed spring-closed jaws pivoted to a suitable supporting base andadapted to be held in their open positions by means of a bait-pan and latch cooperating therewith, hinged to the frame and extending over the edge of one of the jaws for interlocking engagement vwith the heel of the bait-pan, in suoli manner that the slightest depression of tliepan will trip it from interlocking engagement with the latch and thereby release the jaws to be closed by the reti'acting spring.

In this class of traps it has heretofore been customary to lock only one of the aws in its open position by means of the latch and the bait-pan, leaving the other aw free to swing toward and from the locked jaw, which, of course, is objectionable in that it frequently enables the animal to get at the bait on the pan from the underside of the loose jaw without liability of becoming caught, in lcase the jaws are released, by the tripping of the bait-pan.

The main object of iiiy invention is to provide simple and efficient means, preferably as integral parts ofthe jaws, for holding the loose jaw in its open position when the otherjaw is set and locked.

In other words, I have sought to provide iueans whereby the setting and locking of one of the jaws by the usual bait-pan and catch, will automatically lock the other jaw in its open position without in any way interfering with the free closing of beth jaws by the retiacting spring when the bait-pan 45 is released from engagement with the catch,

as for example, by the animal seeking the bait on the plan. Other objects and uses relatiiig to specific parts' of the device will be brought out in the following description:

In the drawings:

Figures l, 2 and 3 are perspective views of modified forms of traps equipped with my improved locking device.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 vare enlarged detailed sectional views taken respectively on lines sit-4: Figure l, 5 5 Figure 2, and 6-6 Figuse 3, showing the vinterlocking connections between the jaws of the several traps shown in Figures ll, 2 and.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view of one side of a modified form of jaw support with which my invention may be used.

In Figure l is shown a frame consisting of a base-plate7 or bottom -l-, and a cross-bar -2, secured at one end by spot welding or equivalent fastening means to the central portion of the base-plate -1- and having its other end extending laterally from the base-plate a distance lsomewhat greater than the radius of either jaw.

The ends of the base plate --1 are provided with upturned ears or lugs -3- having apertures -lfor receiving the ends of a pair of opposed jaws -6. A flat spring 7- extends lengthwise of and diiectly over the base plate -land is 'secured in. any suitable manne-r to one end of said hase plate and has its other end eX- ytended some distance beyond the corresponding end of the base plate and provided with un opening` *8* for receiving the adjacent upturned flange or lug -3 when the jaws vare open, and also for receiving .the adjacent ends of the jaws when the latter are closed. The opposite longitudinal walls of the opening -8 serve to engage the lower or outer edges of the adjacent ends of the jaws to eifect the closing of the same from their pen or set positions when released, it being understood that the spring -7- is placed under tension by the opening of the jaws.

A bait-pan -9- extends across the upper face ofthe spring -7- transversely of the. pla-te -l-, and is held withinthefarcs l of movement of the jaws tiand is piv- .oted at one end .at-"#lO- to the cross bar jacent open jaw -6- and is adapted to eni' gage the upper edge o said jaw to hold it enen position when the ea the sh oulder mill-- or i jaws --6- are provided at one and the saine end, preterably opposite thatenby the l'ree end or the springy 7, with extensien shoulders -land H16- adapted to overlap one upon the other when the jaws are opened for locking the loose jaw in its open position, when the opposite jaw is set in its open position by the interlooting engagement of the bait-pan #9- with the catch -l2-.

lVhen the trap is set, these shoulders eand -lG- engage each other at a point between the adjacent pivotal pintles of the aws in such manner that the shoulder or tongue l5 lies directly over and against the shoulder or tongue 1(5- and it therefore follows that if the jaw having the shoulder --l-n is locked in its open position by the latch -lQ-, the other jaw will also he locked in its open position by its tongue l5- with the tongue 1G- @n the other hand if the bait-pin "9 is tripped by an animal or other pressure troni locking engagement with its catch 2s the jaws m6 will he instantly closed by the action o1 the spring' JTM.

lin setting the jaws, the one having' 'the shoulder, or tongue -lim` is opened slightly in. advance olt the opening el the other jaw, to enable the tongue --ltot the last named jaw to ride under the tongfue l5 of the first nanied jawj a't'ter which the latch -12- and bait-pan -9- are. moved by hand into interlocking; engagement to hold the jaws against the action ot the spring -`-7-. i

The device shown in Figure 2 is quite similar to that shown in Figure l, except in the employment ot a U-shaped leall spring M47-, havino' the tree ends ot its opposed arins provided with openings -ifor receiving; the adjacent lug or flange around which the spring -Tfis adapted to turn' to diiterent ang-les, relatively to the base plate lr-1, the free end of the lower arm resting,- upon the base plate, while the upper arm is placed. under tension hy the opening` oit the jaws. and epe-rates hy its own tension elose the jaws when the haitpan A9 and catch l2- are relea. from. interlockingr engagement. Gt r1 e7 'the interlocking connections 1. and

*1S- between the jaws, are similar to those previously described.

'lfhe construction shown in `Figure 3 is also somewhat similar to that shown in Figures l and 2, exceptthat the jaws are operated by a coil spring -7-, extending along and above the base plate l, and held in place by a rod or bar 17- which extends lengthwise through the coil and has its ends secured in the upstanding lugs or flanges 3* on the ends ot 'the base plate -l-, the opposite ends of the spring being,` engaged with the lower edges or' the adjacent ends ol the opposite jaws, so as to exert substantially equal closing pressure upon both of the aws simultaneously.

ln Figure 7 the jaw supporting lugs as -3- are made separate troni the base as ewl* but are provided with reduced threaded ends -QO- secured in apertures in the hase by nuts -Qlk the jaws as 22- being-pivoted to the lugs by rivets -23- and are provided with extensions -2Lland -25-, adapted to interlock one upon the ot ier to cause the pan-locked jaw to hold the other jaw against closing' when both jaws are fully opened.

That l claim is:

In combination with spring-closed jaws of an animal trap, lne-ans tor looking one of the jaws in its open positionI` aud Coeperative shoulders on said. jaws, over-lapping one upon the other when the aws are open1 to hold the other jaw against closing', while the iirst nanierL jaw is open.

2. An aninial trap comprising a base plate haring upturned ears7 opposite jaws pivoted to said ears, a cross bar secured to the base plate and extending beyond one of the jaws when openedq a bait-pan and latch pirated to the cross-har and engaging one et the jaws to hold the saine in its open po-A sitiou.y a spring ior closing` the aws when the hail-pan and latch are released ifi-oni engagenunit one with the other, and o-operat`ivc moans on the adjacent ends ot one o't tho jaws it'or looking the other jaw in its open position. v

ln witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand this Sth day of July` 1929.

FERR ND l?, lLLlS.

`Witnesses t l' l, 

